The Golden Apple

Speculation is rife about the new Apple must-have invention of the year.

The islate or ipad - nobody knows its true name, function or purpose – is due to be introduced to the world this Wednesday, 27 January 2010. One thing everybody does seem to agree on is that it will, in all likelihood, be a huge success and further add credence to the widespread belief that everything Apple does turns to gold.

The most interesting aspect about all of this – for me anyways – is the potential effect this new gizmo could have on the media industry. E-book sales have been increasing, if not drastically then at least regularly. Insiders are already predicting that the ipad will revolutionise the publishing industry. Magazines, journals, books and newspapers would all come as close as possible to being carbon copies of their print originals (with all the added online content).

Will this be the tipping point of electronic publishing? Hard to say, but if anybody can pull it off then I would expect it to be Apple.